A year ago today, a terrible earthquake destroyed several cities in my country, especially the Capital and killed more than 250,000 of my countrymen.

I thought it would be appropriate to describe what role my passion for sewing has played in my life these last twelve months.

For weeks after the event, I was lost. Lost in fear, anxiety and sadness. I spent weeks sleeping outside on a mattress laid out on a tarp in my aunt's yard because sleeping inside concrete walls was inconceivable.

It was cold, by Caribbean standards anyway, so I slept wrapped up in layers of clothes. My aunt lived in the hills where it is much cooler than in the city.

And then one day I thought "If only I had my sewing machine. I think I still have that cut of flannel that would make a good pair of pj pants." I had already pulled out everything that was salvageable from the rubble. I had cried at the sight of my two sewing machines, sitting pretty on their table, miraculously intact when the entier room was down.

So, until that day and that thought, my machines were in storage at my father's since I had yet to feel the need to sew a single stitch. And I understood then that I had come back to myself.

Once I found a semi-permanent place to stay, the first thing I did was to set up my sewing space. And then, right after that was done, I sat down to finish a skirt that had been languishing for months. Yes, alas, some UFOs just can't be killed, 7.2 or not.

Today still, I have moments of acute anxiety. All of a sudden, while I'm fitting this stubbornly crooked buttonhole, this thought sneaks in "What if another one hits right now? Why the hell are you sitting there, in front of this machine? Get out of here!!!" But I take a deep breath and I keep sewing. Because sewing helps. Starting a project gives me a feeling of control that I had lost. It gives me a purpose in a country made up of chaos. It helps me keep on when security is falling apart, when politics are taking a sour turn and cholera is killing us off.

And for Christmas at the office, a true vintage pattern this time, Simplicity 8296:The fabric was bought locally, looks like rayon, I think. As these good finds are rare, I bought the end of the roll. Read: You'll be seeing this print again one of these days!